DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS CONTAINING PROBIOTICS
Dietary supplements comprising at least one probiotic and at least one of animal digest, dried brewers yeast, vitamin C; vitamin E, beta carotene, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, and sodium selenite. The probiotics and other ingredients are present in the supplement in amounts sufficient to enhance the palatability of the probiotics and compositions containing the probiotics, enhance the immune system to augment the beneficial effects of the probiotics, or extend the life of the probiotics.
1 . A dietary supplement comprising at least one probiotic and at least one of animal digest, dried brewers yeast, vitamin C; vitamin E, beta carotene, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, and sodium selenite.
2 . The supplement of claim 1 wherein the probiotic comprises a prokaryote, eukaryote, or archaebacteria probiotic.
3 . The supplement of claim 1 wherein the probiotic comprises at least one of any suitable strain or subspecies of Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Bifidobacterium , or Saccharomyces.
4 . The supplement of claim 1 wherein the probiotic comprises Enterococcus faecium (SF68).
5 . The supplement of claim 1 further comprising taurine.
6 . The supplement of claim 1 further comprising a prebiotic.
7 . The supplement of claim 1 further comprising an anti-diarrhea agent.
8 . The supplement of claim 1 wherein the probiotic is microencapsulated.
9 . The dietary supplement of claim 8 wherein the microcapsule comprises a biopolymer matrix coated with shellac.
10 . The dietary supplement of claim 1 wherein the dietary supplement is formulated for a companion animal.
11 . The dietary supplement of claim 10 wherein the companion animal is a cat or dog.
12 . The dietary supplement of claim 1 comprising at least one probiotic and animal digest, dried brewers yeast, vitamin C; vitamin E, beta carotene, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, and sodium selenite.
13 . The supplement of claim 12 wherein the probiotic comprises Enterococcus faecium (SF68).
14 . The dietary supplement of claim 8 comprising at least one probiotic and animal digest, dried brewers yeast, vitamin C; vitamin E, beta carotene, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, and sodium selenite.
15 . The supplement of claim 14 wherein the probiotic comprises Enterococcus faecium (SF68).
16 . A kit suitable for administering probiotics to an animal comprising in separate containers in a single package or in separate containers in a virtual package, as appropriate for the kit component, at least one probiotic and at least one of (1) one or more ingredients suitable for consumption by an animal, (2) one or more prebiotics, (3) one or more anti-diarrhea agents, (4) instructions for how to combine the dietary supplement and other kit components and (5) instructions for how to use the dietary supplement and other kit components.
17 . A food composition comprising one or more ingredients suitable for consumption by an animal and a dietary supplement of claim 1 .
18 . The food composition of claim 17 wherein the ingredients form a nutritionally complete companion animal food.
19 . The food composition of claim 17 wherein the dietary supplement is admixed with the ingredients.
20 . The food composition of claim 17 wherein the dietary supplement is applied to the ingredients.
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